2018 Stanley Cup Champions | Washington Capitals

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Game 3: Eller’s Double OT Winner Secures Caps’ First Postseason Win

After dropping the first two games of their first-round series against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Capitals responded in Game 3 at Nationwide Arena. Lars Eller scored the game-winning goal nine minutes into double overtime and Braden Holtby made 33 saves as the Capitals earned a 3-2 win. The Capitals successfully killed all four Columbus power plays, including a full twominute man-advantage in the first overtime. Eller’s first career postseason OT winner secured the first of four consecutive Washington wins. Alex Ovechkin had two assists in his 100th career Stanley Cup playoff game.

Game 4: Caps No. 1 Line Shines

Evgeny Kuznetsov had a goal and three assists, while Alex Ovechkin and Tom Wilson had a goal and an assist each as the Capitals beat the Blue Jackets 4-1 in Game 4. The series would return to D.C. tied at two games apiece.

Game 5: Backstrom Delivers in OT, Gives Capitals 3-2 Series Lead

Nicklas Backstrom scored his first two goals of the postseason, including the overtime winner as the Capitals beat Columbus 4-3 in OT in Game 5. Backstrom’s deflection of a Dmitry Orlov point shot at 11:53 of overtime gave him his franchise-record fourth career postseason OT winner. It also provided the Capitals with a 3-2 series lead.

Game 6: Capitals Eliminate Columbus, Book Rematch with Penguins

In a span of just over five-and-a-half minutes in Game 6 against Columbus, Alex Ovechkin scored an even-strength goal, drew a penalty and scored on the ensuing power play. Ovechkin’s sequence late in the second period helped break a 1-1 tie and give Washington a 3-1 lead heading into the second intermission. Devante Smith-Pelly would add the eventual game-winning goal in the third period, while Chandler Stephenson became the first rookie in team history to score a postseason shorthanded goal. The Capitals beat Columbus 6-3 in Game 6 and became the first team in NHL history to win a series after dropping the first two games in overtime.

Game 2: Caps Erase Series Deficit vs. Pittsburgh

The Capitals responded after dropping their series opener in Round 2 against Pittsburgh with a convincing 4-1 win in Game 2. Alex Ovechkin scored 86 seconds into the first period and rookie Jakub Vrana scored the game-winning goal as the Capitals evened the series at a game apiece.

Game 3: Ovechkin’s Late Winner Gives Caps Series Lead

In what may go down as one of the biggest goals of his career, Alex Ovechkin capped off a 2-on-1 rush with Nicklas Backstrom with 1:07 remaining in regulation and beat Matt Murray to secure a 4-3 Capitals win in Game 3. Pittsburgh had built a 3-2 lead through two periods, but Matt Niskanen tied the score 5:06 into the third before Ovechkin and Backstrom teamed up to complete the comeback. Ovechkin’s goal came at the end of a 1:26 shift – his longest even-strength shift of the game – and gave Washington a 2-1 series lead.

Game 5: Vrana Provides Third Period Spark

With the Capitals trailing Pittsburgh 3-2 heading into the third period of a critical Game 5 at home, rookie Jakub Vrana joined Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov on the No.1 line. Pittsburgh had command of the second period, scoring twice and outshooting Washington 18-5. The Capitals needed a spark. Vrana and the newlyconfigured top line provided one. In the opening minute of the most important period of their season, Vrana sprung Kuznetsov for the game-tying goal on a breakaway. Vrana later scored the go-ahead marker on a feed from Ovechkin with 4:38 remaining. Although the Capitals lost Nicklas Backstrom with an injury in the third, they won 6-3 and took a 3-2 series lead.

Game 6: Kuznetsov Nets OT Winner; Sends Caps to Eastern Conference Final

Despite missing three of their top-six forwards for Game 6 in Pittsburgh – Nicklas Backstrom, Andre Burakovsky and Tom Wilson were all out – the undermanned Capitals beat the Penguins 2-1 in overtime. Washington dressed a franchise-record five rookies in Game 6, including two – Travis Boyd and Nathan Walker – who made their NHL postseason debut. That didn’t keep the Capitals from eliminating the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions. Alex Chiasson opened the scoring on a pass from Walker in the second period, before Alex Ovechkin fed Evgeny Kuznetsov for the game-winner in OT. For the first time in 20 years, the Capitals advanced to the Eastern Conference Final.

Game 1: Caps Draw First Blood in Tampa Bay

The Capitals opened the Eastern Conference Final with a 4-2 win in Game 1 in Tampa Bay. Alex Ovechkin had a power-play goal and an assist in his Eastern Conference Final debut while Jay Beagle, Michal Kempny and Lars Eller also scored as the Capitals built a 4-0 lead in the second period. Game 1 could have turned late in the first period when Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov appeared to tie the score 1-1. Instead, the Lightning were penalized for having too many men on the ice. The goal was erased and Washington received a power play. Two seconds into the ensuing man advantage, Ovechkin gave the Capitals a 2-0 lead.

Game 2: Caps Continue Road Success

With Nicklas Backstrom missing a third consecutive game due to injury, centers Evgeny Kuznetsov and Lars Eller had a goal and two assists each as the Capitals beat the Lightning 6-2 to take a 2-0 series lead. Alex Ovechkin, Tom Wilson, Brett Connolly and Devante Smith-Pelly also scored as the Capitals improved to 7-1 on the road in the postseason. John Carlson had two assists to establish a franchise record for most points in a single postseason by a defenseman (13).

Game 6: Holtby Blanks Bolts

Facing elimination for the first time in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, T.J. Oshie scored twice and Braden Holtby made 24 saves as the Capitals beat the Lightning 3-0 in Game 6. The Capitals controlled possession but were also physical, outhitting the Lightning 39-19. Brooks Orpik and Tom Wilson led the Capitals with six hits each.

Game 7: Holtby Earns Another Shutout; Caps Advance to Cup Final

Alex Ovechkin opened the scoring just 62 seconds into the first period and Braden Holtby made 29 saves as the Capitals beat the Lightning 4-0 in Game 7. With the win, the Capitals advanced to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1998. Holtby stopped the final 61 shots he faced against Tampa Bay and ended the series with a shutout streak of 157:13. Andre Burakovsky added a pair of insurance markers in the second period and joined Dale Hunter (1988) as the only Capitals to score two goals in a Game 7. Evgeny Kuznetsov picked up an assist and established a Capitals postseason record by extending his point streak to 10 games.

Game 2: Orpik Nets Winner; Capitals Earn First Win in Stanley Cup Final

Capitals leading-scorer Evgeny Kuznetsov left Game 2 late in the first period due to injury, but Lars Eller was among those who picked up the slack. Eller factored in all of Washington’s scoring with a goal and two assists as the Capitals beat Vegas 3-2 to even the Cup Final at a game apiece. Alex Ovechkin scored a power-play goal and Brooks Orpik emerged as the unlikely game-winning goal scorer. Orpik broke a personal 220-game goalless drought midway through the second period. Braden Holtby made 37 saves, none bigger than his sprawling paddle stop on Alex Tuch with two minutes remaining in regulation to preserve Washington’s one-goal lead.

Game 3: Capitals Take Series Lead in Cup Final

Alex Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov both scored first-period goals while Devante Smith-Pelly added an insurance tally in the third as the Capitals beat the Golden Knights 3-1 in Game 3. The win gave the Capitals their first ever Stanley Cup Final victory on home ice and a 2-1 series lead. Ovechkin scored 1:10 into the first period, tying John Druce’s franchise record with his 14th goal of the playoffs

Game 4: Balanced Attack Puts Capitals on Verge of Cup Win

Six different Capitals scored and Evgeny Kuznetsov had four assists as Washington beat Vegas 6-2 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. Kuznetsov became the 12th player in NHL history and the first since Joe Sakic in 1996 to record four assists in a game in the Stanley Cup Final. T.J. Oshie, Tom Wilson and Devante Smith-Pelly all scored in the first period while John Carlson added a power-play tally in the second. Michal Kempny and Brett Connolly also scored for the Capitals, who dominated the special teams battle going 4-for-4 on the penalty kill and 3-for-5 on the power play.

Game 5: Capitals Rally Once More; Win the Stanley Cup

The Capitals earned the first Stanley Cup title in franchise history with a 4-3 win in Game 5 at T-Mobile Arena. Vegas led 3-2 at the second intermission, but Devante Smith-Pelly and Lars Eller scored in the third period to secure the Capitals’ comeback win. Smith-Pelly’s seven goals in the playoffs matched his entire total from the regular season. He capped off the Stanley Cup Final on a three-game goal scoring streak. Jakub Vrana and Alex Ovechkin also scored in the Cup-clinching win. Ovechkin’s 15th goal of the playoffs established a new franchise record. John Carlson added an assist to become the Capitals all-time postseason leading scorer among defensemen (55 points in 100 games). The Capitals, who clinched all four series on the road, tied a League record with 10 road wins in the playoffs. They also joined the 1991 Penguins as the only teams to win the Stanley Cup despite trailing in all four series.

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Eastern Conference Quarterfinal - Capitals Defeat Blue Jackets, 4-2